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Today, Congresswoman Leger Fernández announced Victoria Dominguez as her Hometown Hero virtual guest to President Biden’s State of the Union Address to Congress on Tuesday, March 1st, 2022. Ms. Dominguez is a clinical social worker and community school director for the Cuba independent school district, a rural district that serves students from the Navajo reservation.

The State of the Union Address will highlight the achievements and work still to be done under the leadership of President Biden. While safety protocols mean this year’s in-person attendance will be limited, Leger Fernández said the invitation to Victoria is an important way to honor the people of Cuba and New Mexico’s third congressional district and uplift their stories.

“We have come so far this past year — together, we passed the American Rescue Plan during one of our darkest times and the Infrastructure Law to bring America to the 21st century. For this year’s State of the Union Address, I want to honor our Hometown Hero Victoria, a hardworking Nuevo Mexicana whose perseverance in the face of the pandemic has inspired us all,” said Leger Fernández. “People like Victoria are the true heroes behind America’s progress over the past year, and I am proud to share her story as a reminder of why we do the work that we do in Congress.

“I am honored to be the guest of Congresswoman Leger Fernández to the State of the Union. I had the opportunity of talking to the Congresswoman a few days ago when she visited the Cuba Independent School district, and I am excited that the first Latina from CD-03 represents me,” said Victoria Dominguez, Clinical Social Worker and SOTU Guest. “I started Cuba Cares with the intention of this project being a long-term resource for the school and the community. Cuba Cares assists families with food, clothes, hygiene products, household appliances, finding shelter, and social emotional support. I wanted students and families to know that we love and care about them because we are all in this together. As we approach year 3 of the pandemic, it is essential that students and families have the support they need.”

About Victoria Dominguez

A native to the state, Dominguez, 32, grew up in Cuba, New Mexico. After graduating from Cuba High School in 2008, Dominguez attended New Mexico Highlands University in Las Vegas, NM. Dominguez received both her undergraduate and graduate social work degrees from NMHU. Now a clinical social worker, Dominguez created Cuba Cares in the spring of 2020 to support students and families. She held a clothing drive not knowing it would lead to a much broader effort to bring food, clothing, and other basic necessities to students and families in need.

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